SpaceX scrubs SES satellite launch
June 1, 2018
By Chris Forrester
The planned launch of the SES-12 satellite, initially scheduled for June 1st, has been delayed until June 4th (at the earliest) says SpaceX.
The reason given is that SpaceX wants extra tests to take place on the Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage booster. The rocket’s nine first stage engines were fired up in a ground test on May 24th.
SpaceX initially aimed to launch the SES-12 satellite on May 31st. But last Sunday, the company announced a one-day slip to June 1st. At the time, SpaceX said its launch team was “using [the] additional time to perform pre-launch vehicle checks.”
Weather conditions are also being monitored at the Cape Canaveral launch site.
SES-12 is designed to replace NSS-6 and will be co-located at 95 degrees East and expanding DTH and other connectivity over India, as well as Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and offering coverage as far as Australia, Japan and South East Asia.